McDonald’s has long been known for its iconic menu items, but over the years, the fast-food giant has also forged some surprising and unexpected collaborations with other brands. These partnerships have not only captivated customers but also demonstrated McDonald’s ability to adapt to shifting market trends and appeal to different consumer demographics. From fashion brands to entertainment franchises, McDonald’s has truly explored new frontiers in brand collaborations. Here are some of the most surprising and noteworthy partnerships.
1. McDonald’s x Travis Scott
One of the most unexpected collaborations in recent years was McDonald’s partnership with rapper Travis Scott. In 2020, the fast-food chain teamed up with Scott to create the “Travis Scott Meal,” a combination of a quarter-pounder with cheese, bacon, fries with BBQ sauce, and a Sprite. The collaboration was hugely successful, as it tapped into Scott’s massive influence in pop culture and the fast-food industry’s ever-growing relationship with music and celebrity culture. This collaboration marked the first time in nearly three decades that McDonald’s released a celebrity meal, signaling a shift in their marketing strategies. The promotion wasn’t just about the food—it was about selling a lifestyle, with exclusive merchandise, like Cactus Jack branded McDonald’s gear, making it even more appealing to Scott’s fanbase.
2. McDonald’s x BTS
The partnership between McDonald’s and the global K-pop sensation BTS was another major surprise. In 2021, McDonald’s unveiled the BTS Meal, which featured a 10-piece Chicken McNuggets combo with Sweet Chili and Cajun dipping sauces, inspired by the band’s home country, South Korea. The collaboration was a massive success, particularly in countries with large BTS fanbases. Fans around the world flocked to McDonald’s to grab the limited-time meal, driving record-breaking sales. Additionally, McDonald’s and BTS launched a special campaign to further engage their fanbase, further intertwining fast food with the cultural influence of global music artists.
3. McDonald’s x Coca-Cola
While not as shocking as some of McDonald’s more recent collaborations, the partnership with Coca-Cola has been a long-standing one that has shaped the fast-food industry for decades. While many fast-food chains serve soda brands from various companies, McDonald’s exclusive partnership with Coca-Cola remains iconic. This collaboration is so deep that it’s often cited as the gold standard of beverage partnerships. McDonald’s signature taste of Coca-Cola is distinct and many believe it tastes better when served at the fast-food chain. The partnership also extends to limited-time flavors and promotions, including special Coke cups and co-branded marketing campaigns.
4. McDonald’s x Nintendo
In a completely unexpected move, McDonald’s joined forces with the world of gaming through its collaboration with Nintendo. This partnership primarily came to life during the launch of the Super Mario Bros. 3 video game in the late 1980s. McDonald’s ran a promotional campaign that included the distribution of Nintendo-themed toys, which were included with kids’ meals. The collaboration tapped into the burgeoning gaming culture of the time and allowed McDonald’s to position itself as a hub for fun, family-friendly entertainment. It wasn’t just about the meal—it was about creating an immersive experience that brought together fast food and gaming in a way that hadn’t been done before.
5. McDonald’s x Monopoly
The McDonald’s Monopoly promotion has been one of the most successful and surprising ongoing collaborations in its history. Since 1987, McDonald’s has teamed up with Hasbro to create the Monopoly game, where customers collect game pieces on their food packaging to win prizes. The Monopoly game became a cultural phenomenon, with millions of customers participating in hopes of winning cash, cars, or other valuable prizes. The collaboration not only increased sales but also built a sense of excitement and anticipation among customers every time the promotion returned. McDonald’s and Monopoly are now so intertwined that many customers eagerly wait for the promotion to start each year.
6. McDonald’s x Hello Kitty
In a cross-branding move that tapped into both the nostalgia and cuteness factors, McDonald’s collaborated with Sanrio’s Hello Kitty in the early 2000s. The fast-food chain released a series of limited-edition toys featuring Hello Kitty characters, which were distributed with kids’ meals. The collaboration was hugely popular, especially among young girls, and the cute toys quickly became collectibles. The collaboration exemplified McDonald’s ability to tap into different fanbases, reaching both children and adults who had an affinity for the Hello Kitty franchise.
7. McDonald’s x Rick and Morty
In one of the more recent and quirky collaborations, McDonald’s worked with the creators of Rick and Morty to bring back the famous Szechuan Sauce. The sauce had originally been a limited-time promotion in the late 1990s, but after an episode of Rick and Morty aired in 2017 featuring the sauce, demand skyrocketed. McDonald’s decided to relaunch the Szechuan Sauce as part of a limited-time promotion, combining nostalgia with the cult hit show’s fanbase. While the sauce’s return was controversial due to the chaotic scenes it created in stores, it showcased McDonald’s ability to respond to pop culture trends and connect with younger audiences.
8. McDonald’s x Grubhub
In 2020, McDonald’s took a significant step toward embracing the growing trend of food delivery services by partnering with Grubhub. This collaboration allowed McDonald’s customers to place delivery orders directly through the Grubhub app, with exclusive deals and promotions available. The move was a strategic response to the increasing demand for delivery, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. McDonald’s partnership with Grubhub made fast food even more accessible and allowed both brands to reach a broader customer base.
9. McDonald’s x Gucci
In one of the most surreal collaborations, McDonald’s teamed up with luxury fashion brand Gucci for a limited-edition collection in 2021. The collaboration, which included a range of high-end apparel and accessories, was a play on both high fashion and fast food culture. The collection featured items like a $1,000 handbag with the McDonald’s logo, as well as other products like sweaters, socks, and hats. While the collection was polarizing—some seeing it as a fun, quirky collaboration while others questioned its relevance—it sparked conversations about the merging of streetwear, luxury fashion, and fast food. The collaboration symbolized the blurring of cultural lines and highlighted how McDonald’s could adapt to contemporary trends.
10. McDonald’s x Jack in the Box
Though this collaboration was more of a humorous marketing stunt rather than a formal partnership, McDonald’s and Jack in the Box teamed up in a cheeky way in 2019. Jack in the Box introduced a McDonald’s-inspired burger on their menu to poke fun at their competitor. The tongue-in-cheek “McChicken” offering wasn’t intended to be a formal collaboration but instead showcased how McDonald’s competitors were constantly keeping an eye on the brand. This stunt added an element of humor to the ongoing rivalry between the two fast-food chains.
Conclusion
McDonald’s collaborations with various brands have evolved over the years, surprising customers and elevating the fast-food experience in ways no one could have predicted. These partnerships demonstrate McDonald’s ability to remain relevant and adaptable to cultural trends, from celebrity meals to merchandise collaborations. By stepping outside the traditional fast-food space and experimenting with different industries, McDonald’s continues to engage its vast customer base while appealing to new audiences. Whether through music, fashion, gaming, or entertainment, McDonald’s collaborations show that fast food is much more than just a meal—it’s a cultural phenomenon.